Smartphones are growing increasingly powerful and are boasting faster processors, larger storage, and greater memory. Nine years ago, the first Galaxy S shipped with just 512MB of RAM, but the capacity on smartphones has evolved to reach a minimum of 6GB on the S10e. It looks like these numbers will continue to expand, as Samsung just announced it's begun mass-producing its new LPDDR4X 12GB DRAM chip.

The 1TB Galaxy S10+ already features 12GB of internal memory, but this new chip is reportedly smaller than the flagship's current module, which is achieved by combining six 16-gigabit chips into a single module. The space this frees up could allow for bigger batteries in future devices or room for more components such as a 5G modem or more cameras.

Interestingly, Samsung refers to multi-camera 5G phones in its press release, hinting this new chipset could be found in the Galaxy S10 5G. Also, as the manufacturer tends to announce new chips shortly before a new flagship comes out, there's a good chance it could also be in the Note 10.

Press Release

New 12GB LPDDR4X joins 512GB eUFS to enable a seamless user experience in smartphones with multi-cameras, 2X screen sizes, and AI and 5G features

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced that it has begun mass producing the highest-capacity mobile DRAM – the industry’s first 12-gigabyte (GB) low-power double data rate 4X (LPDDR4X) package – optimized for tomorrow’s premium smartphones. Featuring higher capacity than most ultra-thin notebooks, the new mobile DRAM will enable smartphone users to take full advantage of all the features in next-generation smartphones.

“With mass production of the new LPDDR4X, Samsung is now providing a comprehensive lineup of advanced memory to power the new era of smartphones, from 12GB mobile DRAM to 512GB eUFS 3.0 storage,” said Sewon Chun, executive vice president of Memory Marketing at Samsung Electronics. “Moreover, with the LPDDR4X, we’re strengthening our position as the premium mobile memory maker best positioned to accommodate rapidly growing demand from global smartphone manufacturers.”

Thanks to the 12GB mobile DRAM, smartphone makers can maximize the potential of devices that feature more than five cameras and ever-increasing display sizes as well as artificial intelligence and 5G capabilities. For smartphone users, the 12GB DRAM enables more fluid multitasking and faster searches as they navigate through a myriad of apps on ultra-large high-resolution screens. Also, the 1.1-millimeter thickness allows for even sleeker smartphone designs.

The 12GB capacity was achieved by combining six 16-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR4X chips based on the second-generation 10nm-class (1y-nm) process into a single package, providing more space for the smartphone battery. In addition, by using the company’s 1y-nm technology, the new 12GB mobile memory delivers a data transfer rate of 34.1GB per second while minimizing the increase in power consumption inevitably caused by a boost in DRAM capacity.

Since introducing 1GB mobile DRAM in 2011, Samsung continues to drive capacity breakthroughs in the mobile DRAM market, moving from 6GB (in 2015) and 8GB (2016) to today’s first 12GB LPDDR4X. From its cutting-edge memory line in Pyeongtaek, Korea, Samsung plans to more than triple the supply of its 1y-nm-based 8GB and 12GB mobile DRAM during the second half of 2019 to meet the anticipated high demand.